Property Tax Information

Each year the City Council, the County Commissioners and the York City School Board establish a tax millage. This millage, when multiplied against the assessed value of your property, results in the Face tax due. State law allows for a 2% discount, if paid within 60 days (Rebate) and a 10% penalty, if it is not paid within 120 days (Penalty). Certain properties may qualify for a Homestead Exclusion.

City, County and School Property Tax Payments

IN PERSON OR BY MAIL
Office of the City Treasurer
York City Hall
101 S George Street
York, PA 17401

HOURS
Monday through Friday
8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Except Major Holidays

City Hall is handicapped accessible and FREE parking is available in the parking lot located south of York City Hall off George Street. Look for the sign that reads “York City Hall Customer Parking”.

Please make sure we have your correct mailing address, email, and daytime phone number. Otherwise, we may not be able to promptly contact you if there are question concerning your account. If you are a limited partnership or the property is owned by a business, be sure we have the name and contact information for the individual responsible for property tax issues.

Per the York City Ordinance, “the real estate tax notice shall be mailed to the last known post office address of each taxable parcel. Failure to receive the notice shall not relieve any taxpayer from the payment of any taxes imposed by the City.” (305.01)

We do not send copies of tax bills to mortgage companies. Therefore, if you receive a tax bill but have your property tax payments escrowed, you must forward the bill to your mortgage company.

Current year tax amounts are not available online. If you need documentation concerning the status of current year tax payments, a Tax Certification must be requested. A fee of $20/parcel is required in advance.

Our office accepts CASH, PERSONAL & CERTIFIED CHECKS and MONEY ORDERS. We do NOT accept debit and credit cards, but we will accept checks received from credit card companies.

Checks should be made payable to York City Treasurer. Please note the full PROPERTY ID NUMBERS (18 digits i.e. ## – ### – ## – ###### – #####) on your check memo area. We do not use bill numbers.

For a validated receipt by mail, please send the entire bill with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

The Treasurer’s Office does not collect delinquent taxes (prior years).

Delinquent Tax Inquiries

For 2020-21 York City School District Real Estate Taxes, Mailing Address Change Forms must be received by the York City Treasurer’s Office by May 11, 2020, to assure changes will be made before the bills are printed.

For 2021 York City Real Estate Taxes, Mailing Address Change Forms must be received by the York City Treasurer’s Office by December 10, 2020, to assure changes will be made before the bills are printed.

However, if mailing address changes occur after these deadlines, you should still submit the form as soon as possible so changes can be made prior to any future deadlines.*Requests for address changes must be signed by the property owner as shown on the deed.

2020 York City Taxes

Discount amount (2% reduction of Face) due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office on or before May 15, 2020.

Face amount due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office between May 16 and June 15, 2020.

Penalty amount (Face plus 10%) due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office between June 16 and December 31, 2020.

Taxes are delinquent after December 31, 2020 and must be paid at York County Tax Claim located at 28 E Market Street.

2020 York County Taxes

Effective January 1, 2020, York City is no longer collecting York County Real Estate Taxes. For York County Real Estate Taxes deadlines, please contact the York County Treasurer’s Office.

2020 York Business Improvement District Assessments

Face amount due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office on or before June 17, 2020.

Penalty amount (Face plus 10%) due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office between June 18 and December 31, 2020.

2019 PA Property Tax & Rental Rebates

Applications must be filed with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by June 30, 2020. Deadline is subject to change. Call State Representative Carol Hill-Evans’ Office at
(717) 848-9595 for the latest information.

2020-21 York City School District Taxes

Discount amount (2% reduction of Face) due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office on or before September 14, 2020.

Face amount due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office between September 15 and November 13, 2020.

Penalty amount (Face plus 10%) due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office between November 14 and December 31, 2020.

Taxes are delinquent after December 31, 2020 and must be paid at York County Tax Claim located at 28 E Market Street.

2021 Homestead Applications

For 2021 Homestead Exclusions (applicable only to School taxes), applications must be received by the Treasurer’s Office by March 1, 2021.

2021 York City Taxes

Discount amount (2% reduction of Face) due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office on or before April 15, 2021.

Face amount due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office between April 16 and June 15, 2021.

Penalty amount (Face plus 10%) due for payments postmarked or delivered to the City Treasurer’s Office between June 16 and December 31, 2021.

Taxes are delinquent after December 31, 2021 and must be paid at York County Tax Claim located at 28 E Market Street.

The documents noted above can be sent to you via emailed or the US Postal Service. Self-addressed, stamped envelopes must accompany all requests for transaction histories, duplicate bills and duplicate receipts delivered by US mail. Business envelopes (4½” x 9½”) are requested.

All fees must be received prior to the issuing of any of the above documents. Please allow 48 hours from the receipt of your payment for processing of your request.

Local law offices and settlement companies may be able to create an account with the Treasurer’s Office to facilitate faster service. If interested, please contact Carol Brady, Deputy Treasurer at (717) 849-2346.

Please use the Tax Certification Form above and mail your request along with payment to the Office of the City Treasurer located at 101 S George St, York, PA 17401. You may call our office at 717-849-2281 for any questions or to check the status of your request.

Payment

Our fee for a Tax Certification is $20 per parcel. The Tax Certification will include current and prior year tax amounts for City, County, School and Business Improvement District Taxes, if applicable. Checks should be made payable to York City Treasurer.

Processing Time

Your request will be processed in the order in which it was received. Normal processing time, once we receive your check, is 2 business days; however, processing may take longer during extremely busy periods. An additional fee for “Rush Service” may apply.

Delivery

You may request to have the Tax Certification mailed, e-mailed or faxed to you. We will normally mail your Tax Certification to you, but if you need the document ASAP and have access to a computer and printer we can also scan and email the document to you. Be sure to include your email address and phone number with your request. Please print clearly.

Updates

We will provide verbal updates for 60 days from the date of your Tax Certification. After 60 days, the $20 per parcel fee for a new Tax Certification will be required.

If you own the property and reside in the property as your sole primary residence, you may be eligible for a property tax reduction on your school taxes.

Applications are available via the link above, at the Office of the City Treasurer, 101 S George Street, and at the York County Assessment Office, 28 E Market Street. The application must be signed by the owner for which the property is his or her primary residence. All application materials must be completed and returned by March 1st to be eligible for the current year.

The York County Assessment Office will notify those who are approved within 30 days.

Should the status of your Homestead Application be in question you will be notified as soon as possible after the March 1st deadline. Failing to reply to any notice received as requested may result in the denial of your Homestead Application and require that you reapply for exclusions in future years.

Any person who files an application containing false information or who does not continue to meet the requirements for the Homestead Exclusion will lose their Homestead Exclusion.

Households who no longer qualify for a Homestead Exclusion are required to notify the York County Assessment Office and the City Treasurer’s Office within 45 days that there has been a change in use and that the property no longer qualifies for a Homestead Exclusion.

Homeowners who continue to accept a Homestead Exclusion after they are no longer qualified for the exclusion will:

Be required to pay the taxes which would have otherwise been due plus interest

Be required to pay a penalty equal to 10% of the unpaid taxes

If convicted of a misdemeanor of the third degree for filing a false application, pay a fine not to exceed $2,500

If you have a questions, please visit or call one of the following offices:

The Veteran’s Real Estate Tax Exemption Program provides for an abatement of local real estate taxes for any veteran who meets the established criteria:

Veteran’s Eligibility Criteria:

The veteran must:

Have served in the military honorably.

Have served during established war service dates (DOC) as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The following decorations can also be used to establish wartime service: Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or Navy Expeditionary Medal.

Have a total or 100% permanent disability rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, be blind, paraplegic or have sustained the loss of two or more limbs as a result of military service.

Blind: Visual acuity of three-sixtieths or ten two-hundredths, or less normal vision

Paraplegic: Bilateral paralysis of the upper or lower extremities of the body

Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Occupy the real estate as his/her principal dwelling.

Solely own the dwelling as an individual or as an estate in the entirety.

Prove financial need according to the criteria established by the State Veterans Commission if their annual income exceeds $88,607, effective January 1, 2017.

Applicants with an annual income of $88,607 or less are given a rebuttable presumption to have a need for the exemption.

Upon the death of a qualified veteran, tax exemption may pass on to the surviving spouse if financial need can be shown.

How Is Financial Need Established?

An applicant whose gross annual income exceeds $88,607 will be considered to have a financial need for the exemption when the applicant’s allowable expenses exceed the applicant’s household income. The applicant’s monthly household expenses will be calculated to include a cost of living allowance and dependent’s allowance.

What happens after the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs certifies a “financial need” for the Disabled Veterans Tax Exemption and eligibility criteria has been verified?

The County Board for the Assessment will grant the tax exemption. Cases that have been granted tax exemption will be reviewed periodically to determine continued need for exemption from specific real estate taxes.

Current law allows for you to make up to FOUR partial payments on Municipal (City) taxes and up to FOUR partial payments on School taxes.

Partial payments are not allowed on County taxes; the entire County tax amount must be paid in one payment.

No discounts are allowed on partial payments. Partial payments may be made in any amount; however we recommend that you spread out your payments evenly remembering that your payments must add up to the exact amount due on the bill.

Any amount still due after the Face due date is subject to the 10% penalty.

If paying by mail, the US Postmark determines if the payment meets the deadline date. Postal meter dates and check dates are not accepted as valid indications that the deadline has been met.

The entire bill and, if paying by mail, a stamped, self-addressed envelope should accompany each payment. If you fail to bring the Tax Collector portion of the bill, you will be charged $3.00 for a duplicate bill.

We will return to you a computer generated receipt indicate the number of payments you have made and your portion of the bill. You should bring or mail your portion of the bill each time you make a payment.

If using an Internet Payment System, please be sure to include the $3 Duplicate Bill Fee and the complete parcel number on your check each time a payment is made.

Upon making your last payment, we will provide you with additional copies of your final receipt should you need additional copies for your income taxes, your accountant, your mortgage company, or your PA Property Tax/Rental Rebate application.

Remember that we do not accept credit cards. We do accept cash, personal checks, cashier’s checks and money orders.

BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE TAX COLLECTOR’S COPY OF YOUR BILL WITH YOUR PAYMENT. OTHERWISE, YOU ARE SUBJECT TO A $3/PARCEL DUPLICATE BILL FEE.

ALSO NOTE YOUR COMPLETE PARCEL ID NUMBER (not the bill number) ON YOUR CHECK AND INCLUDE YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS SO WE CAN REACH YOU SHOULD THERE BE ANY QUESTIONS.

Downtown Inc. is the trade name for a joint venture between the York Business Improvement District Authority and Main Street York, a 501(c)(3) not for profit. Together they work to drive, enhance, and encourage investment in downtown York. The organization is comprised of a staff of seven, a Board of eleven directors, and more than 125 dedicated and committed volunteers.

The YBIDA is given permission through city ordinance to charge a one mill assessment on commercial and residential rental properties in the Central Business District, one of the lowest assessments charged by a Business Improvement District in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

YBIDA fees are applied to efforts and programming in the areas of Safety, Promotions and Events, Beautification and Economic Development.

The York Adams Tax Bureau collects and distributes earned income tax for 124 municipalities and school districts in York and Adams Counties. All residents of Adams County and all residents of York County (except West Shore School District) file their annual earned income tax returns with YATB. The Bureau also collects Local Services Tax, Delinquent Per Capita Tax and Mercantile/Business Privilege Tax for some of its members.

Please complete the form below if you are a new resident or if you have a change of address.

The Office of the City Treasurer is responsible for the administration of Fire Escrow Act 98. If a fire loss equals or exceeds 60% of the limits of liability, the insurance company is required to transfer to the City Treasurer $2,000 for each $15,000 or fraction thereof from the insurance proceeds. [Act 98 of 1992 Sec. 508 (c)].

The insurance company is not permitted to pay any claim in excess of $7,500 without contacting the Treasurer’s Office for a certificate showing the amount of delinquent taxes, assessments or user charges due on the property.

Fire Escrow checks should be payable to York CityTreasurer and mailed to the Office of the City Treasurer, 101 S. George St., York, PA 17401.